Portable hunting stand

ABSTRACT

A lightweight, portable hunting stand including two or more ladderlike sections and an upper curved platform section upon which the hunter sits. The lower section rests upon the ground and the upper section leans against a tree trunk.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1960Everest.........................

[72] lnventors Milton D. Bamburg Rt. 4, Box 502, West Monroe, La. 71291;

Bobby R. Russel, Route 1, Calhoun, La. 71225 3,282,375 11/1966 Ray1,422,654 7/1922 Bilger et a1.

2,881,028 4/1959 Baird..... 3,057,431 10/1962 George..

211 AppLNo. 90,723 22] Filed Nov. 18, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971FORElGN PATENTS [54] PORTABLE HUNTING STAND 15 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

AttorneyDavid L. Ray

ABSTRACT: A lightweight, portable hunting stand including two or moreladderlike sections and an upper curved platform section upon which thehunter sits. The lower section rests MSWI 4/ 7 27 8& 01 E 00E 7 u 2 n 8m 3 m 6 n l U 2 u n 8 n l n hm c n M m c m t e h F 1 m 5 5 l 1 upon theground and the upper section leans against a tree trunk.

I PATENTEDUEE28B7| 3.630.314

' SHEET 1 OF 2 VIIIIIIIIIIA In INVENTORS M. D. BAMBURG B. R. RUSSELATTORNEY 'm'emsnmzm 3530.314

' sum 2 0F 2 INVENTORS M. D. BAMBURG B. R. RUSSEL I ATTORNE PORTABLEHUNTING STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Deer hunters and othersportsmen frequently build platforms in trees several feet above theground to sit upon to conceal themselves from deer or other game animalssince animals pursued by dogs through a wooded area seldom look upwardfor hunters. The elevation of the hunter above the line of vision of thehunted game greatly reduces the probability that the hunter will bedetected. In addition, the chance that the hunter may be scented by theanimal is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the hunter is in a much saferposition by being well above the line of fire of other hunters.

Hunting stands or platforms are most commonly permanently attached to alarge tree. One disadvantage of such platforms is that they usuallydeteriorate quickly due to exposure to the elements throughout the year.Another disadvantage of stationary platforms is that they prohibit thehunter from easily and rapidly moving to an area where game is moreplentiful.

Various portable hunting stands are known in the art which overcome someof the disadvantages of stationary stands. Exemplary of such prior artstands are U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,999 which discloses a portable huntingstand which contains a clamp for affixing the stand to a tree; U.S. Pat.No. 3,282,375 which discloses a portable hunting stand which containswheels for transporting the stand; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,057,43I whichdiscloses a portable hunting stand containing a U- shaped latch forattaching two of the sections of the hunting stand together. However,all are relatively complex in design and expensive to manufacture. Suchhunting stands are relatively difficult to assemble in addition to beingheavy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweighthunting stand which may be readily transported and assembled by one man.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a compacthunting stand which may be easily transported in the trunk of anautomobile.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a huntingstand which is durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are realized in a portable huntingstand which includes a lower ladder section, an upper ladder sectionconnected to the lower ladder section, and a platform section connectedto the upper ladder section. Additional objects and advantages willbecome apparent by referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the portable hunting platform of thepresent invention erected and ready for use;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the upper ladder section of the huntingplatform;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the lower ladder section of the huntingplatform;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partially sectional view taken along line 44 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the platform section of the huntingplatform;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional side view of the rope locking device;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view ofa hingedjoint;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view ofa slipjoint;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a swaged slip joint;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view ofa hinged joint;

FIG. II is a perspective view of a hinged joint with a sliding lockingmechanism;

FIG 12a is a side elevational view ofa hingedjoint; and

FIG. 12b is a front elevational view of a hingedjoint.

Referring now to FIG. I, it will be seen that the embodiment of theinvention which has been illustrated comprises a ladder of structuralmagnesium or other suitable material which is designated generally bythe reference numeral 5. The ladder 5, which may be of any suitabledimensions, consists of three sections. The three sections of the ladderare shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, respectively. The section shown in FIG.3 is the lower ladder section 6 and comprises cylindrical rails 10 andcylindrical rungs 9.

The upper ladder section shown in FIG. 2 has rungs 9 and rails 10 asdoes lower ladder section 6. In addition, upper ladder section 7 hassockets 20 which are circular in cross section and slightly larger ininner diameter than the outer diameter of rails I0.

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG.2 depicting a typical joint of rung 9 to rail I0. Rail 10 is circular incross section. Rung 9 is inserted through an opening in rail 10 and fitsinto the interior of rail 10. The end 40 of the rung butts against theinterior of rung 10, as is shown in FIG. 4. Rung 9 is fastened to rail10 by means of a weld 22. It is very important that rung 9 be insertedinto the interior of rail 10 since the strength of the joint is greatlyincreased thereby.

The platform section 8 of the portable hunting stand is shown in FIGS. Iand 5. The platform section 8 comprises two rungs 9 and two curved,cylindrical rails 4l having sockets 24 on the lower ends thereof forreceiving the upper ends of the rails 10 of upper ladder section 7. Inaddition, platform section 8 has a rope 25 attached thereto and alocking device 14 for securing the rope to platform section 8 after therope has been passed around a tree trunk.

Stretched over the platform section is a fabric platform 12 whichpreferably is made from a flexible fabric material such as nylon, orlon,or the like. The platform could be made of rigid plastic, aluminum orother lightweight material.

The locking device 14 is shown in detail in FIG. 6. The locking deviceconsists of a casing 16 having an eyebolt I5 attached thereto. Rung 9passes through the eyebolt 15 as shown in FIG. 5. The casing 14 has apin 18 fastened to each side thereof around which finger l7 pivots.Finger 17 has teeth 42 on the end thereof as shown in FIG. 6. Rope 25 isinserted through the lock 14 and then pulled in the reverse direction tocause finger 17 to move downward with the rope. When rope 25 is pulledtight teeth 42 of finger l7 bite into the rope 25 to secure the rope tothe lock.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the rails 10 of lower ladder section 6 fitinto sockets 20 of the upper ladder section 7 to join the two sectionstogether. The rails 10 of the upper ladder section 7 in turn fit intothe sockets 24 of the platform section 8 to join section 8 to section 7.The outside diameter of the rails 10 must be chosen sufficiently closeto the inside diameter of sockets 20 and 24 to provide a snug fit.

The three sections 6, 7 and 8 may also be joined by means of acylindrical pin, one end of which can be inserted into the interior of arail of one section and fastened thereto by welding or other suitablemeans. The other end of the pin is inserted into the interior of a railof another section, thereby connecting the two rails together.

The rails of sections 6, 7, and 8 may be rectangular in cross sectionrather than circular. Such a rectangular rail is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8and is designated by the numeral II.

FIG. 7 illustrates a hinged joint which may be used to join either lowerladder section 6 to upper ladder section 7, or to join upper laddersection 7 to platform section 8. The hinges 26 shown in FIG. 7 may bewelded or fastened by any other suitable means to each of therectangular rail sections 11. Hasps 28 are attached to each of railsections 11. Hasps 28 have holes therein (not shown) for insertion of apin 27 to lock the two rail sections 11 together. The pin 27 has aspringloaded car 29 therein to prevent the pin from being pulled throughthe holes in the hasp without depressing the car. Attached to pin 27 isa chain 30 which is also attached to rail section 11. The chain preventsthe pin from being lost when the pin is removed from the two hasps.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8.Rectangular rails 11 have attached thereto hollow sockets 21 ofrectangular cross section slightly larger in internal dimension than theouter dimensions of rail section 11. The sockets 21 are connected torail sections 11 by welds 22. Rail sections 11 are connected to sockets21 by sliding the sections into the interior of sockets 21.

The internal dimensions of sockets 21 are chosen sufficiently close tothe external dimensions of rail 11 to make rail 11 fit securely insocket 21 yet loosely enough to be removed by hand. Sockets 21 may besubstituted for sockets 20 and 24 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively,when rectangular rails 11 are employed.

In FIG. 9 is shown the most preferred means for joining the threesections 6, 7, and 8 of the portable hunting stand together. Cylindricalrails have swaged end portions 23 which are slightly smaller in outsidediameter than the inside diameter of rail 10 to insure contact betweenend portions 23 and the inside of rail 10. The swaged end portions 23may be slightly tapered toward the end to insure a tight fit. Swaged endjoints are the most preferred because they are lighter, lower in cost,and easier to assemble than any other type of oint.

FIG. 10 shows another type of joint which may be employed with eithercylindrical rails 10 or with rectangular rails ll 1. The joint shown inFIG. 10 comprises two cast hinged sections 32. Cast hinged sections 32may be cast metal such as iron, aluminum, or the like. Hinged sections32 are square in cross section between slip-stop 31 and the end at whichthe hinge 26 is joined thereto. A portion of the cast hinged section 32is inserted into rail 11. If a cylindrical rail such as rail 10 isemployed, the portion of cast hinged section 32 which is inserted intothe rail is circular in cross section and is slightly smaller in outsidediameter than the inside diameter of rail 10. If rail 11 is employed,the portion of cast hinged section 32 which is inserted into rail 11 isrectangular in cross section and has outside dimensions slightly smallerthan the interior dimensions of rail 11.

The slip-stops 31 are attached to cast hinged section 32 and are of thesame outside diameter as the outside diameter of the rails. Slip-stopsmay be made of any suitable type of metal such as iron, steel, aluminum,or the like. The slip-stops prevent the cast hinged section 32 fromsliding into the rails of the various sections 6, 7, or 8 of theportable hunting stand 5. The two cast hinged sections 32 have twohinges 26 and two hasps 28 connected thereto. The hasps have holestherein (not shown) for insertion of a pin 27. Pin 27, hasps 28, andchain 30 function in the same manner as described in the explanation ofFIG. 7.

In FIG. 11 is shown another type of hinged joint which may be employedin the present invention. The hinged joint consists of two sections, along section 33, and a short section 34. Both sections 33 and 34 arerectangular in cross section. Sections 33 and 34 are joined by a tongue36, which is attached to the joints 33 and 34 by means of pins 18. Thepins 18 are attached to the ends of joints 33 and 34 and pass throughholes (not shown) in the ends of tongue 36. Portions of the hingedsections 33 and 34 are inserted into rails 10. If cylindrical rails suchas rails 10 are employed the portion inserted into the rails is circularin cross section. If rectangular rails 11 are employed the portions ofhinges 33 and 34 which are inserted into the rails are rectangular incross section. The hinge joint depicted in FIG. 11 is locked by slidinglock 35 over the hinge joint as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 11.Lock 35 is a hollow, four-sided metal tube of square cross section whichis slightly larger in interior dimensions than the exterior crosssectional dimensions of hinged sections 33 and 34. Slip-stops 31 preventsections 33 and 34 from sliding completely into rails 10.

FIGS. 12a and 12b depict another type ofjoint which may be employed inanother embodiment of the present invention. The joint consists of anupper hinged section 38 and a lower hinged section 39, both of which arecircular in cross section. The upper portion of hinge section 38 fitsinto interior of rail 10 and is circular in cross section. If railsection 11 is employed the portion of hinge section 39 inserted thereinis rectangular in cross section. The two ends of upper section 38 andlower section 39 which meet together are curved to mate as shown inFIGS. 12a and 12b. Upper hinge section 38 has a curved tongue 37attached thereto. The curved tongue 37 has a slot 44 therein. A pivotpin 24 attached to lower section 39 fits into slot 44 and when upperhinge section 38 is pulled upward the curved tongue 37 slides upwardabout pivot pin 24. Pivot pin 24 travels in slot 44 to prevent theseparation of upper hinge section 38 from lower hinge section 39. Lowerhinge section 39 has a slot (not shown) in the interior thereof forreceipt of curved tongue 37. A pin 27 is located in lower hinge section39 to engage slot 44. Pin 27 is secured to rail 10 by means of chain 30.Pin 27 and chain 30 function in the same manner as described above inthe explanation of FIG. 7. Pin 27 may be inserted into slot 44 toprevent upper hinge section 38 and lower hinge section 39 from pivotingabout pin 27. Hinge sections 38 and 39 are prevented from slidingcompletely into rail sections 10 by means of slip-stops 3|.

In addition to the aforementioned embodiments the bottom portion oflower ladder section 6, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 1, may have attachedthereto foot elements such as flat metal plates or the like to preventthe portion of the rails 10 which rest upon the ground from sinking intothe ground. A rung 9 may be attached to rails 10 of lower ladder section6 near the bottom portion of the section to prevent the lower laddersection 6 from sinking into soft ground. The rails 10 may be rectangularin cross section as are rails 11, or they may be of any other suitablecross-sectional configuration such as hexagonal, pentagonal, elliptical,or the like.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent fromthe consideration of the foregoing. If one of the hinged embodiments ofthe ladder section is employed the two ladder sections are merely foldedout until the rail sections thereof are aligned and the hinges arelocked into place by means of pin 27 or lock 35 as shown in FIG. 11. Ifthe slipjoint embodiment of the present invention is employed the threesections of the hunting platform are merely joined by sliding the railsections 10 or 11 into sockets 20 or 21, or by sliding swaged endsections 23 into rail sections 10. The platform is then swung to theraised position, leaned against the tree as in FIG. 1 and affixed to thetree by extending rope 25 around the tree and into lock 14.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications or changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A lightweight portable hunting stand consisting of:

a. a lower ladder section having vertical tubular rails and horizontaltubular rungs connected to said rails;

b. an upper ladder section having vertical tubular rails and horizontaltubular rungs connected to said rails;

c. means for connecting said lower ladder section to said upper laddersection;

d. a platform section composed of curved tubular rails and horizontaltubular rungs connected to said rails, said upper platform sectionhaving a flexible platform stretched about said rails; and

e. means for connecting said upper ladder section to said platformsection.

2. The hunting stand of claim 1 wherein said tubular rails are cylinderhaving a circular cross section.

3. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprisesswaged lower end portions of said rails of both said platform sectionand said upper ladder section, said swaged end portions being ofsuitable outside diameter to slideably engage the interior of the upperends of said rails of both said upper ladder section and said lowerladder section.

4. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprisescylindrical sockets connected to the lower ends of said rails of bothsaid upper ladder section and said platform section, said sockets beingof suitable inside diameter to slideably engage the exterior of theupper ends of both said upper ladder section and said lower laddersection.

5. The hunting stand of claim 4 wherein said sockets and said rails arerectangular in cross section.

6. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means compriseshinges attached to the lower ends of the rails of said platform sectionand said upper ladder section and to the upper ends of said rails ofsaid upper ladder section and said lower ladder section.

7. The hunting stand of claim 6 wherein said ends of said rails to whichsaid hinges are attached have locking means thereon for preventing saidrails from pivoting about said hinges.

8. The hunting stand of claim 7 wherein said locking means compriseshasps attached to the ends of said rails generally adjacent to saidhinges, each of said hasps having a hole therein and a pin adapted forinserting into said holes, said pin containing spring-loaded lockingmeans to prevent accidental removal of said pin from said hasps and achain connecting said pin to said rail.

9. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprisestwo cast hinged sections connected together by a hinge, each of saidcast hinge sections having a portion which is rectangular in crosssection and a portion which is circular in cross section and each ofsaid circular portions being attached to the interior of the ends ofsaid rails.

10. The hunting stand of claim 9 wherein said rails are rectangular incross section and both of said portions of said cast hinge sections arerectangular in cross section.

11. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprisesa hinged joint including a long section and a short section, both ofsaid sections having a portion which is rectangular in cross section anda portion which is circular in cross section, each of said circularportions being attached to the interior of said rails, connecting meansattached to said long section and to said short section, said connectingmeans including a tongue having a hole in each end thereof, a pininserted through each of said holes, one of said pins being attached tosaid long section and the other of said pins being attached to saidshort section, and a sliding lock, said lock comprising a four-sidedtube of rectangular cross section which slides over and encloses saidtongue and pins to lock said joint.

12. The hunting stand of claim 11 wherein said rails are rectangular incross section and both of said portions of said short section and longsection are rectangular in cross section.

13. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprisesan upper hinged section and a lower hinged section, the lower end ofsaid upper section being curved and mating with the upper end of saidlower section, both of said upper section and said lower section beingcircular in cross section and both being partially inserted into theinterior of the ends of said rails, a curved tongue attached to saidupper section, said tongue having an elongated slot therein, a pivot pinconnected to said lower section and fitting through said slot, and alocking pin which fits into the end of said slot to lock said connectingmeans.

14. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said rails have holes in thesides thereof and said rungs are welded in holes, the ends of said rungsbutting the interior of said rails.

15. The hunting stand of claim 14 wherein said rails are rectangular incross section.

1. A lightweight portable hunting stand consisting of: a. a lower laddersection having vertical tubular rails and horizontal tubular rungsconnected to said rails; b. an upper ladder section having verticaltubular rails and horizontal tubular rungs connected to said rails; c.means for connecting said lower ladder section to said upper laddersection; d. a platform section composed of curved tubular rails andhorizontal tubular rungs connected to said rails, said upper platformsection having a flexible platform stretched about said rails; and e.means for connecting said upper ladder section to said platform section.2. The hunting stand of claim 1 wherein said tubular rails are cylinderhaving a circular cross section.
 3. The hunting stand of claim 2 whereinsaid connecting means comprises swaged lower end portions of said railsof both said platform section and said upper ladder section, said swagedend portions being of suitable outside diameter to slideably engage theinterior of the upper ends of said rails of both said upper laddersection and said lower ladder section.
 4. The hunting stand of claim 2wherein said connecting means comprises cylindrical sockets connected tothe lower ends of said rails of both said upper ladder section and saidplatform section, said sockets being of suitable inside diameter toslideably engage the exterior of the upper ends of both said upperladder section and said lower ladder section.
 5. The hunting stand ofclaim 4 wherein said sockets and said rails are rectangular in crosssection.
 6. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting meanscomprises hinges attached to the lower ends of the rails of saidplatform section and said upper ladder section and to the upper ends ofsaid rails of said upper ladder section and said lower ladder section.7. The hunting stand of claim 6 wherein said ends of said rails to whichsaid hinges are attached have locking means thereon for preventing saidrails from pivoting about said hinges.
 8. The hunting stand of claim 7wherein said locking means comprises hasps attached to the ends of saidrails generally adjacent to said hinges, each of said hasps having ahole therein and a pin adapted for inserting into said holes, said pincontaining spring-loaded locking means to prevent accidental removal ofsaid pin from said hasps and a chain connecting said pin to said rail.9. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprisestwo cast hinged sections connected together by a hinge, each of saidcast hinge sections having a portion which is rectangular in crosssection and a portion which is circular in cross section and each ofsaid circular portions being attached to the interior of the ends ofsaid rails.
 10. The hunting stand of claim 9 wherein said rails arerectangular in cross section and both of said portions of said casthinge sections are rectangular in cross section.
 11. The hunting standof claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a hinged jointincluding a long section and a short section, both of said sectionshaving a portion which is rectangular in cross section and a portionwhich is circular in cross section, each of said circular portions beingattached to the interior of said rails, connecting means attached tosaid long section and to said short section, said connecting meansincluding a tongue having a hole in each end thereof, a pin insertedthrough each of said holes, one of said pins being attached to said longsection and the other of said pins being attached to said short section,and a sliding lock, said lock comprising a four-sided tube ofrectangular cross section which slides over and encloses said tongue andpins to lock said joint.
 12. The hunting stand of claim 11 wherein saidrAils are rectangular in cross section and both of said portions of saidshort section and long section are rectangular in cross section.
 13. Thehunting stand of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises anupper hinged section and a lower hinged section, the lower end of saidupper section being curved and mating with the upper end of said lowersection, both of said upper section and said lower section beingcircular in cross section and both being partially inserted into theinterior of the ends of said rails, a curved tongue attached to saidupper section, said tongue having an elongated slot therein, a pivot pinconnected to said lower section and fitting through said slot, and alocking pin which fits into the end of said slot to lock said connectingmeans.
 14. The hunting stand of claim 2 wherein said rails have holes inthe sides thereof and said rungs are welded in holes, the ends of saidrungs butting the interior of said rails.
 15. The hunting stand of claim14 wherein said rails are rectangular in cross section.